96z28_lt1

iTrader: (3)

Hey everyone, have a 1999 Trans Am and the steering wheel just feels off. Its sometimes loose and easy to turn and then sometimes harder and stiff to turn. Sometimes when i go to drive and make a 90 degree turn or such, its loose and then gets to a point where its stiff and requires a noticeable more amount of arm strength to turn. Also sometimes i can here my wheel clicklike a binding of some sort. I haven't gotten under it to check what it is per say and am really hoping its not my rack and pinion. Was thinking of checking the knuckle and maybe replacing the inner and outer tierod ends. I know my 96 z28s steering was smooth but firm.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

Have you checked the u-joint at the point where the steering shaft and r&p join?

96z28_lt1

iTrader: (3)

no i havent yet, all ive done is topped off power steering fluid and turned te wheels lock to lock to get ant air out of the system. I was going to look over that this weekend, are these known to get loose or something?

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

They've been known to. Keep in mind, unless somebody else has checked it, you're working with a 15 year old car.

96z28_lt1

iTrader: (3)

Ill be looking at it tomorrow after class, at first I thought it was just because the ls cars have an extra joint in the steering knuckle but the more I thought about it I decided I was dumb haha.

96z28_lt1

iTrader: (3)

well i tightened the bolt a little and it doesn't tseeem to have helped much... guess i'll eventually be adding a steering overhaul onto the list of things to do...

Jr.Samples

With your car on the ground. Locate the rag joint. Have someone move the steering wheel about a quarter turn back and forth. You will most likely see the steering side shaft moving with the wheel and see slop on the rack pinion side. Get a rag joint eliminator. I just put on in my 97. Huge difference.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

OP said his car is a '99. I believe that the rag joint had been eliminated by then.....although I put one of those on my '96, and it noticeably improved the precision of my steering.

ThoR294

iTrader: (6)

any links to said rag joint eliminators?

96z28_lt1

iTrader: (3)

haha im aware of the rag joint eliminator, no links. Actually drove the car today again and it seems a little better i think its just old suspension parts needing replacing eventually. I guess the steering just feels like it comes in stages no positive though. the clicking part seems to have vanished though so hopfully steering fixed that.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

'Unbalanced Engineering'...........IIRC, but this might get pulled, because I don't think they're a Forum sponsor.